Suction cleaner



July 23, 1935. c. H. TAYLOR 2,008,972

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I WWW? R 7 I vINVENTO 67207166 11 729/101 A ORNEY July 23, 1935.

C. H. TAYLOR SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II/IILharles H 229110! ATTORNEY Patented July 23, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SUCTIONCharles H. Taylor, North Canton,

to The Hoover Company,

a corporation of Ohio CLEANER Ohio, assignor North Canton, Ohio,

Application August 11, 1933, Serial No. 684,636

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general andparticularly to a new and improved surface-agitating device in a suctioncleaner. More specifically, the invention comprises the provision of anew and novel motordriven beating agitator in a suction cleaner nozzle.It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedsuction cleaner agitator. It is a further object t o -provide, in asuction cleaner, a beating agitator which is driven by its own motorpositioned within the cleaner nozzle. It is still another object toprovide, in a suction cleaner, a vibrating beater agitator which isdriven by a rotary motor positioned in the cleaner nozzle. It is a stillfurther-object to provide, in

a suction cleaner, a positive beating agitator which is resilientlymounted within the cleaner nozzle and which is actuated by a rotatingdriving motor which moves in synchronism with the surface-contactingbeating element. These and more specific objects will appear uponreading the following specification and claims and upon considering inconnection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which the same reference charactersrefer to like parts throughout:

Figure l is a side elevation of a modern suction cleaner embodying anagitator constructed in accordance with the parts being shown in ofFigure 3.

Figure 2 is a top view of the agitator unit removed from the suctioncleaner nozzle.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the cleaner nozzle upon the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial section through the cleaner nozzle with theagitator removed therefrom and showing the agitator support.

Figure 5 is a section upon the line 5-5 of Figure Figure 6 is a. sectionupon the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a section upon the line'l-J of Figure 3. 1

Figure 8 is a. section similar to the section of Figure 1 but on anenlarged scale.

A well known type of suction cleaner is shown in the drawings whichcomprises a casing including a nozzle I, having front and rearsurfacecontacting lips 2 and 3 respectively; and a fan chamber 4 whichis interiorly connected by the air passageway 5 to the nozzle I, andwhich is open to the exhaust outlet 6. A dust bag 1 is connected bysuitable means 9 to the outlet 6. A

section upon the line l-| present invention, certain motor casing 9 ispositioned immediately above the fan chamber 4 and houses a suitabledriving motor In, the shaft of which extends into the fan chamber 4 andcarries a suction-creating fan II which is effective, in the operationof the machine,

to create a reduced pressure in the fan chamber 4 and to draw air fromthe nozzle 1 and exhaust it into the dust bag I. As in the usual suctioncleaner of this type, front and rear supporting wheels l2 and I3 areprovided, as is a pivoted 10 handle I4 by which the operator may exert apropelling force. The incoming power leads to the motor ID are indicatedat l6, l6 and extend through the handle l4 and down and into the motorcasing 9 at H. The leads partially en- 15 circle the motor ID to beconnected to a contact block l8, leads l9, l9 extending from that blockdirectly to the motor Ill.

The suction-creating means of the cleaner are effective to lift thesurface covering undergoing cleaning into contact with the nozzle lips 2and 3 and to draw air between those lips and the surface covering toremove the foreign matter embedded in the latter. Within the nozzle I toco-operate with the flow of air in removing the foreign matter in'thesurface covering is pro-- vided an agitating unit indicated generally bythe reference character 20 which is constructed in a new and novelmanner as hereinafter described.

Agitator 20 comprises an elongated cylindrical body 2| the crosssectional dimensions of which vary across the nozzle mouth, as isclearly seen in Figures 2, 5 and 6. At substantially its center the body2| is enlarged for a considerable distance while at the sides thereofthe body is narrowed until it is elliptical in cross section with itsmajor axis in a vertical plane, as is seen in Figure 5. v

The ends of body 2| are closed by resilient cups 22, 22 which areclamped by means of riveted rings'23, 23 to that body. A supportingshaft 24 extends inwardly from each end of body 2i through the cup 22 tobe seated at its inner, ends in a resilient rubber seat 25 carried by asuitable support 26 from the top of body 2|. The supports 26, 26 arepositioned at substantially the ends of the enlarged portion locatedcentrally of the, body 2|. The outer ends of the shafts 24, 24 areseated in resilient rubber members 21, 21 carried by integral seats 28,28 at the ends of a frame 29 which extends above and along the entirelength of the agitator and in contact with the under side of the nozzlewall. Each cup 28 itself is enclosed in a rubber cup 39 and the entireseat assemblage is removably secured to the end Walls of the nozzle bymeans of seats 30, carried prising an unbalanced electric rotary motordiby the nozzle.

Flexible leaf springs 35, are connected to the frame 29 substantiallycentrallyof the nozzle and extend laterally to pointsat the ends of theagitator body 2| where they seat in resilient blocks 36, 36 carried inhousings 31, 31 on top of that body. These leaf springs 35, 35 makepossible, or rather do not impede, the vertical movement of the agitator20 while limiting to a relatively small extent any rotation orhorizontal movement.

Within the body 2|, and more particularly within the enlarged portionthereof at its center, is positioned a rotating motor 40, the stationaryfield 4! of which is carried by the body, the rotating armature 42 beingmounted in bearings 43, 43 which are also carried by the body. Thearmature shaft extends beyond the bearings 43, 43 and supportsunbalanced weights 44, 44, as is clearly seen in Figure 3. Theelectrical current for the motor is obtained from the leads 45, 45 whichenter the body 2| at 46, having extended along a channel 41 positionedalong the underside of frame 29. Leads 45, 45 extend into an insulatingcontact block 48 carried by frame 29, each lead ending in a contact 49.

When the agitator unit is positioned within the nozzle each contact 49makes contact with a nozzle-supported contact 50, the opposite end ofwhich extends upwardly and into contact with a contact 5| carried by thecontact block l8. This arrangement makes possible the removal of theagitator unit from the nozzle and the removal of the motor from thenozzle casing without necessitating any electrical disconnectionsrequiring tools.

In the operation of the cleaner constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, cleaning air is drawn through the nozzle and effectsthe lifting of the surface covering into contact with the lips 2 and 3.The agitator 20 extends substantially into the plane of the nozzle lipsbeing provided with an agitating element 38 which is shown in thedrawings as being a rigid beater element and which is adapted to makecontact with the surface covering. The current which drives the electricmotor It] also passes through the electrical connections aforedescribedto the motor within the body 2|. As the armature 42 rotates it carrieswith it the unbalanced masses 44, 44 which impart to the entire agitatorunit a movement in an orbit similar to that shown in connection with thebeater element in Figure 6. The mounting of the agitator unit upon theresiliently supported shafts 24T24 makes possible this movement with aminimum of resistance and the result is the delivery of a beating blowto the surface covering undergoing cleaning having a component ofmovement parallel to that surface covering which is relatively small.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a body, an agitator, means mounting saidagitator relative to and in operative relationship with said body forfree limited translation, and means comprising an unbalanced electricrotary motor directly connected to said agitator for synchronousmovement therewith, the unbalanced element of said motor rotating aboutan axis to impart motion having a vertical component to said agitator.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body, an elongated agitator, means mountingsaid agitator on said body for free limited translation including motionin a horizontal direction, and means comrectly connected to saidagitator for synchronous movement, the unbalanced element of said motorrotating about an axis to impart motion to said agitator having ahorizontal component.

3. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a nozzle connected tosaid means, an agitator within said nozzle, means mounting said agitatorfor limited free movement toward and from a surface covering positionedbelow said nozzle, an unbalanced electric rotary motor in said nozzleconnected to said agitator for common displacement therewith relative tosaid nozzle, the un=- balanced element of said motor being rotatableabout a horizontal axis.

4. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a nozzle connected tosaid means, an agitator within said nozzle extended substantiallyparallel to the plane of the supporting surface, means mounting saidagitator for limited free movement in certain directions, an unbalancedmass connected to said agitator and rotatable about an axissubstantially parallel to said supporting surface, and means comprisingan electric motor to rotate said eccentric mass to cause said agitatorto be translated in a continuous orbit to effect the agitation of asurface covering positioned below said nozzle.

5. The construction recited in the preceding claim characterized in thatsaid eccentric mass and said means to rotate said mass are positionedwithin said agitator.

6. An agitator unit for a suction cleaner comprising a frame adapted tobe seated on the cleaner casing, a body, means supporting said body onsaid frame forfree translation within limits, a surface-contactingagitating element carried by said body, and an electric unbalancedrotary motor carried by said body to actuate said element.

7. In a suction cleaner, a casing, an agitator body, means resilientlysupporting said body on said casing for limited free movement, anagitating element carried by said body, and an unbalanced electricrotary motor mounted in said body to actuate said element.

8. In a suction cleaner, a casing, an agitator body, a resilientlymounted shaft supporting said body on said casing, a surface-contactingagitating element carried by said body, an unbalanced electric motormounted in said body to actuate said element, and current-carrying leadsconnecting said motor to a source of electricity in said cleaner.

9. In a suction cleaner, a surface-contacting agitating element, meansmounting said element for movement in a substantially elliptical pathhaving its major axis vertical, and driving means to actuate saidagitator positioned in the agitator body.

10. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized inthat said agitator is resiliently mounted and in that said driving meanscomprises an unbalanced rotory motor.

11. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, suction-creating means connected tosaid nozzle, an enclosed body interiorly sealed from the interior ofsaid nozzle, means non-rotatably and movably mounting said body in saidnozzle, an agitating element carried by said body in a position tocontact a surface covering undergoing cleaning, and bodyactuating meanspositioned inside said body to move said body and agitating elementrelative to a surface covering undergoing cleaning.

12. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, suction-creating means connected tosaid nozzle, an enclosed body interiorly sealed from the interior ofsaid nozzle, means non-rotatably and movably mounting said body in saidnozzle, an agitating element carried by said body in a position to'c'ontact a surface covering undergoing cleaning, an electric motor insaid body including an unbalanced element rotatable about an axisparallel to the supporting surface. v 13. In a suction cleaner, anozzle, suction-creating means-connected to said nozzle, an enclosedbody interiorly sealed from the interiorof said nozzle, meansresiliently and non-rotatably mounting said body in said nozzle, 9."surface-pontactingagitating element carried by said body,

an electric motor in said body including a stator rigidly carried bysaid body and an unbalanced rotor positioned for rotation about ahorizontal axis.

14. An agitator for a suction cleaner comprising a body, asurface-contacting agitating element carried by and movable'with saidbody, supporting means on said body adapted to seat removably onasuction cleaner casing, electrical means in said body to cause saidbody to vibrate, and contacts carried by said body connected to saidelectrical means and adapted to be connected with a source of current ona cleaner casing.

. tactingagitating element, means element for limited translationrelative to said b dy, I said element to a greater extent than thevertical translation, and means to actuate said element in a continuousorbit having vertical and horizontal components for the purpose ofeffecting the agiagitator in said elliptical path to impart agitation tosaid surface covering.

16. In a suction cleaner, a'body, a surface-conmounting said means torestrict horizontal translation of tation of a surface coveringundergoing cleaning.

17. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surface-contacting agitatingelement, means mounting said element for movement in which each point insaid element moves in an elliptical path in 'a vertical plane'relativeto said body, and means to actuate said agitator in said elliptical pathto effect surface agitation.

18. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized inthat'sald actuating means are connected to and are movable with saidagitating element.

CHARLES H. TAYLOR.

